File case or cabinet



W. T. WOOD.

FILE CASE 0R CABINET.

Patented Mayl 1 4, 1889.

mga. Y

i W @MW (No Model.) Y2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. T. WOOD.

PILE CASE OR CABINET.

No. 403,168. Patented May 14, 1889 DN LINE Y-Y UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

WILLIAM T. IVOOD, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FILE CASE OR CABlNE-r.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,168, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed December 14, 1888. Serial No. 293,547. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. WOOD, of IVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in File Cases or Cabinets, of which the followingis a speciiication.

My invention relates to those so-called lilin g-cases rin which the file-boxes are mounted in horizontal and vertical rows in a case or cabinet and provided with means by which they are automatically suspended when withdrawn.

The invention relates to an improved mode of constructing the case or cabinet, whereby its parts are adapted to be cheaply constructed by machinery and to be quickly assembled or disconnected without the employment of skilled labor. i

The invention also consists in an improved` construction of the devices by which the boxes are suspended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a case constructed on my plan. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section from front to rear on the line Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 4 is atop plan view of the case with portions shown in horizontal section. Fig. 5 is a vertical crosssection on the lineyy of Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective vview showing the parts or members of the case and the manner in which they are assembled. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the file-box and the suspending devices thereon.

In its preferred form my case is constructed entirely of metal. It consists of front standards, A, rear standards, A', horizontal bars or rails B, connecting the front and rear standards, and transverse rods or tubes C, passing through the standards and the ends of the bars B. The standards are constructed each in one piece and of U form in horizontal section, with transverse openings a therethrough. The bars B are also constructed of metal of n form, in cross-section, with horizontal lips or iianges b turned outward along the lower edges. These flanges terminate before reaching the ends of the bars, which are iianged and adapted to fit snugly within the hollow standards A and A', 'as shown. The ends of the bars B thus formed are provided with transverse holes h', adapted to register with the holes a in the standards. Each of the ends is also provided with a vertical slot or opening, b2, intersecting the opening b and adapted to receive a vertical wedge or key, h3.

The bars C are made of a round form, either distances apart to admit of the iile-boxes` sliding between them, after which the keys b3 are inserted and driven tightly home, their effect being to bind the several parts firmly together. The resulting structure presents, as shown in the drawings, a series of compartments or openings, each adapted to receive and sustain a file-box7 D. The boxes are inserted and withdrawn horizontally at the front, each boxpassing inward over the bars C between the standards and between the horizontal rails or bars B on top of the iianges-h, by which they are sustained.

I prefer to construct the standards andthe horizontal rails of sheet-steel; but they may be rolled, cast, or otherwise formed of other metals.

The case may be provided with suitable base and top and closed at the sides and back in any appropriate manner, these features constituting no part of my invention.

As regards the standards, the essential requirement is that they shall b e of hollow or channeled form, and as regards the bars B the essential requirement is that they shall present the side flange to sustain the fileboxes. Provided these features are retained the said parts may be modified in sectional form at will. The rearstandards are usually made of greater width than the front standards in order to serve as stops to arrest the backward movement of the boxes.

XVhile I propose in ordinary cases to construct the entire case of metal, it is manifest that its parts may be constructed of wood, provided they. are constructed and united in precisely the same manner as the metal boxes above described.

In order to provide for automatically suspending the iile-box, I provide cach box on the under side with two plates, d, located IOO near the sides and about midway of the length of the box. Each plate has its end curved downward and forward from the bottom of the box and then extended outward in the form ol' a lip, as plainly shown in Fig. 7. It will be observed that the flanges l) of the sustaining-rails terminate at a short distance from the front bars, C, leaving intermediate vertical spaces, such as shown at h4, Figs. 3 and 4.

The tile-box is introduced by first turning its base to an upright position and then hooking the plates rl downward over the front bar, (l, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 3, the lower ends of the plates d passing downward through the spaces and openings L". ln this manner the box is suspended in front of the cabinet. lts forward en d is then turned upward until the base of the box assumes a horizontal position, after which the box is pushed horizontally into the case, its base riding on top of the flanges t), while the ends of the plates d pass beneath said flanges, as clearly shown in Figs. and 5, thus preventing t-he boxes from tipping upward or entf ward until they have been withdrawn a suffi* cient distance for the plates or hooks (l to reengage the bar C.

l. am aware that lile-boxes have been variously provided with suspending hooks or plates to engage horizontal guide-rails; but l believe myself to be the first to construct and arrange these suspendingplates in such manner that they will underride the horizontal guide and escape vertically at its forward end between the guide and a supporting-rod and its equivalent.

The back and sides of my case may be closed in any suitable manner. I recommend, however, as a simple and desirable construction the employment, as shown in Fig. 4, of the metal backing-plates c', introduced verti cally between the rear rods, (l, and the vertical flanges of the rear standards, A. ,lhe plates thus applied will be held securely in position without special fastening devices. They may be quickly inserted and removed, and they add materially tothe rigidity of the structure.

Having thus described my inventioinwhat I claim is l. The knoekdown cabinet for Ille-boxes, consisting of standards A A', the independ ent flanged bars li, and eross-bars C, passing through and uniting the standards and bars B, substantially shown.

2. In a ease for tile-boxes, the channeled standards, the bars B, 'fitted at their ends therein, the transverse rods uniting the standards and bars, and the keys, applied substantially as shown.

3. A Vtile-case having a front suspensionrod, C, and box-sustaining bars with side flanges separated from the rod by an opening, U1, in combination with a lile-box having suspending plates or hooks adapted to pass through the openings and underride the bars, whereby the box. is guided wit-hin the ease and automatically arrested and suspended when withdrawii in position to be disconnected.

4. A case for tile-boxes, having the frontl standards, the rear standards of greater width, and the intermediate flanged rails, whereby the boxes are sustained.

5. In a iile ease or cabinet, the combination of the standards A', the eross-rods C, and the plates e inserted between the rods and standards, substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 11th day of December, lSSS, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

lVIlJLlAllI T. WOOD.

Witnesses:

PHIL. T. DODGE, NV. R. KENNEDY. 

